Dyaning Pangestika, Jakarta – Indosat Ooredoo, one of Indonesia's major telecommunications providers, has laid off nearly 700 employees as part of a change in its business strategy "to bring the company's closer to market needs".
According to a statement The Jakarta Post received on Saturday, Indosat president director Ahmad Al-Neama addressed employees on Friday, citing three key changes: "rightsizing the organization, adding resources to increase competitiveness and [improving] customer service and experience".
Al-Neama also stated that the company would "empower regional teams" to develop closer customer ties and "transition network operations to a managed services model in line with industry best practice".
Indosat director and chief human resources officer Irsyad Sahroni said in the statement that 677 employees were laid off on Friday, and that more than 80 percent of the affected employees had received a "fair [severance] package above the statutory requirements".
"We have thoroughly reviewed all possible options, and reached the conclusion that we must take this tough, but necessary action for us to sustain and grow," Irsyad said in the statement.
"We are taking a fair approach aligned with prevailing laws and regulations, communicating directly and transparently with both impacted and unimpacted employees," he stated.
Irsyad added that the company was working on placing many of the laid-off employees in opportunities with its umbrella partners.